Marc
Wade:
Welcome to STAR TREK:CONTINUUM. We are very pleased to bring you tonight's
exclusive chat with Chase Masterson. Chase portrays "Leeta" the Dabo girl
on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine." Chase is also the host of "Sci-Fi
Entertainment" every Friday on the Sci-Fi Channel.

We are coming to you LIVE from the offices of Paramount Digital
Entertainment at Paramount Studios in Hollywood. Your host for tonight's
chat is Guy Vardaman, Senior Producer for STAR TREK: CONTINUUM. Chase
Masterson is typing for herself.

Chase, on behalf of STAR TREK:CONTINUUM, I'd like to welcome you to our
chat tonight.

Chase
Masterson: Quark
as a brother in-law is great! (But it's especially great when he's a woman!)

john taylor
asks:Tell us what
direction you would like to see Leeta to go in character development.

Chase
Masterson: I
really hope that this season the writers give Leeta a bit more strength,
centered versatility...I think she has it, now we just have to see it.
Thanks for asking.

DS7
asks:Are you going
to be in any upcoming movies or shows other than DS9?

Chase
Masterson: Yes!
Am shooting one soon, called Sammyville in which I play a Child Protective
Services worker. Far cry from Leeta, I'm happy to say... Am also in the
upcoming Stephen King. A lead. I'm a Military Police officer. Very gritty.
Very Sigourney. It's called "Sometimes They Come Back For More." Let me
know whatcha think!

Sue Harke
asks:Who do you
consider your "mentor" in the entertainment field?

Chase
Masterson: My
mentor was probably my mom, who's a director. Or maybe my dance teacher,
Debbie. She had a stick and yelled a lot, but she never let me quit. That's
important, no matter what profession, don't you think?

LBUDDE
asks:Where did this
site get the new pictures of you!! They look great! How can your biggest
fan get one?

Chase
Masterson:
That's very sweet! Hi, Linda! My club sells my pictures, and all proceeds
go to Caring For Babies with AIDS. It's very cool. Let me know if you'd
like to help support CBA--with or without the club.

stompy
asks:Chase, I'd just
like to thank you for all of the affection you've shown to your fans at
cons and events around the country, you really are quite special.

Chase
Masterson: Thank
you, Stompy, the pleasure is all mine. I mean it. You guys don't know how
special you are, not because you love us, but in and of yourselves. That's
the main thing I've learned @ conventions. I mean it. You guys don't know
how special you are, not because you love us, but in and of yourselves.
That's the main thing I've learned @ conventions.

Syl and Ben
Frier asks:What
do you see for your character for next season? Will Leeta and Rom have a
family? (Not counting Nog, of course.)

Chase
Masterson: I
always say, what would it be like if Leeta & Rom had a child? Cleavage with
ears?

Ben and Syl
Frier asks:We
hear that you are going to visit us "Lounge Lizards" after you chat is
finished here. Are you sure you can handle it? :)

Chase
Masterson: Yes!
That's the best part. Are you sure you can handle it?

Smoochy
asks:What's it like
to kiss a Ferengi?

Chase
Masterson: It
hurts. Smoochy??

Chase
Masterson: There
was a question about Leeta's involvement in the Bajoran resistance.

Occupation
asks:Was Leeta
always a Dabo Girl, or was she in the Resistance?

Chase
Masterson: I
think that Leeta's big dream was to be in Starfleet, but she couldn't get
sponsored, so she decided to work among them when they took over the
station, any way she could. But she still has higher aspirations than being
just a Dabo girl.

Chase
Masterson: Hi,
you guys! Hi, Eike! I just saw you're here. They just told me there are
others I know or have met that are not identifiable. Identify yourselves!

Marc
Wade:
(for a complete schedule of Chase's show - "Sci-Fi Entertainment" - visit
their site at www.scifi.com)

Chase
Masterson: Let
me know what you think of it. It's new and we'd really like to know what
you think. We're @ sci-fi.com.

Batai
asks:What did you
think of the fans clamoring for a Leeta action figure, and what did you
think of the outcome?

Chase
Masterson: I'm
thrilled to have my own action figure!!! Some actors want an Oscar, an
Emmy... no, not me. Seriously, I'm really happy I have it. It's fun. My son
likes it too. He's the only child in his 6th grade class with a mother
who's an action figure. That carries some clout on the playground. Scary,
tho, I hear that next year they're coming out with the 9 inch dressable and
undressable version...

Robert Marks
asks:Chase, how much
longer will the series run, and will we see much more of you?

Chase
Masterson: How
much more do you need to see? Okay. DS9 is only running one more year.
We're happy to have that. 7 years is really a great series run. I hear that
the producers are writing in more for Leeta, and I'm thankful. It's nice,
they really listen to fan response, so I want to say I really have
appreciated that.

Ianna
asks:What is your
favorite piece of Science Fact?

Chase
Masterson: We
interviewed a man who loved robots as a kid. Then he started making them in
his garage. Then he got a small studio, just as a hobby, and last year he
sold a piece of technology to NASA, and it went up in the Mars shuttle.
That's pretty neat, because it started out as just a dream (he was inspired
by Robbie the Robot) and made it into a reality. It's inspiring to
think--we can all do that if we put our minds to it. Change the world...

Kitty
asks:Can you go
ANYWHERE without being recognized?

Chase
Masterson: Oh,
yes!! I can be very different, and downright plain and scary. Thank you,
tho! You should see me now. Does anyone chat with makeup on?

Matt de
aptos asks:do
you surf the internet often??

Chase
Masterson: I
wish. I don't really know how, or have much time.

Guy
Vardaman: Do you
need a tutor?

Chase
Masterson:
Tutors...any offers?

betterthanezri asks:When Leeta was going out with Bashir, did she know that he
was...altered?

Chase
Masterson: Mmmm.
Oh, yes.

Wus On Sax
asks:Were you a
cheerleader in High school? You seem to be full of positive energy!

Chase
Masterson: God,
no. I was, shall we say, unpopular, to say the least. Not disliked, just
very shy.
Hadn't developed, as it were, in any way. Not that that's a bad thing.
I guess in college I just realized that I have a right to be whoever I want.
We all do. That's the key.
Isn't it comforting, freeing when we learn that?
That's one thing, like @ cons, when fans say, Gosh it's so nice to meet
you. I just think, No, it's nice to meet you. We're all the same, equal,
special. You know?

Chase
Masterson:
Skateboarding. My son wants to go pro, so it's my motherly duty. Lots of
bruises. Not attractive. I'm also starting to produce some projects, some
animation, tv, film, so that takes time. I'd love to make some quality
projects.

Kang
asks:Chase, What is
your favorite Star Trek Alien race?

Chase
Masterson:
Definitely Bajorans. Or Ferengi. Yeah, probably Ferengi. There's a little
Ferengi in all of us. And a little Bajoran. But no Cardassian. I hope. Very
cool, tho, getting to be both Bajoran and a Dabo. Duality is the spice of
life. Or maybe the substance.

Chase
Masterson:
Manboy The Series is in development and under consideration from different
networks. Probably under another title. I'll keep you posted. Check out
info @ chasemasterson.com, if you'd like!

Marc
Wade:
And you can bet we'll let you know about it at STAR TREK: CONTINUUM
(www.startrek.com)

Raistlin
asks:Have u met the
new dax and what is she like?

Chase
Masterson: Um,
next question?

JohnC
asks:Is college
where you first got the acting bug?

Chase
Masterson: I
started acting when I was 5. That was, um, several years ago. I started
acting professionally about 15 years ago. Any aspiring actors out there?

Paris
asks:Who is your
favorite person to act with on Star Trek?

Chase
Masterson: I'd
have to say, honestly, either Max or Armin. They're both really giving, and
hard working and creative.
That's important, because it helps you relax and relaxation is they key to
creativity.
Armin has been so supportive to both Max and I,
always available for advice.
Some of my other favorites to watch on the set are Jeffrey Combs and Wally
Shawn.
Talk about wonderful! and creative!

Chase
Masterson: We
always have the best seats in the house, because every take is hilarious.
It's a lot of fun.

Chase
Masterson:No,
and very. Seriously, no rules! No game, even! I'm gonna make one. And
latinum is very heavy. Especially when you're wearing it. (Check out the
May issue of Femme Fatale...)

Alon
asks:If you could
pick ANY director, whom would you most like to work with?

Chase
Masterson:Definitely Sid on Star Trek, anyway. He really has such a flair for
comedy, and is great both with the camera, and in working with actors. That
combination is really hard to find.
Any director, tho? Barry Levinson? Peter Weir? Bob Zemeckis?
Baby Herman?

On ST, also, David Livingstone is a wonderful director, because he really
lets actors play.
Like, "What would you guys like to do?" That's always freeing, and it
shows that they have confidence in both themselves and us. Ya know? He's
also worked his way up, from being an AD and producer of TNG, so he really
knows about production. I liked Rene, also, as a director. Chris Chulack on
ER was great, too. That episode won the Emmy that year. I'll stop babbling.

Ryan Romero
asks:Some say that
Star Trek portrays women negatively, and cite your character as a prime
example. How do you respond?

Chase
Masterson:I'm so
over people being so closed-minded that they can't see beyond a push-up
bra. And tired of defending it. If they can't see Leeta's heart, that's
their loss, their problem.

Alon
asks:How did you get
involved with Caring For Babies With Aids? Your compassion does you credit
:-)

Chase
Masterson:Thank
you. CBA is a really worthy, really needy charity. I started working with
them 7 years ago, before I was acting full time. I volunteered for a
fund-raising project but I had to stop working on it because I couldn't
even take care of myself. So how much nicer is it to come back years later
and say "Hi, remember me? And here's thousands of people with me now, who
want to help, too."
I'm really thankful. It's the best part about being an actor, having a
place to be able to say "Here's something we can work on together, people
who need our help." Far greater a high than being on television, let me
assure you. That wears off. I mean, it's fun, it's an honor, but it's
still not as meaningful as doing real stuff, you know?

Capt Dave
asks:How does it
feel to be the queen of Science Fiction? (you're beating everyone else on
the TV Guide web poll handily)

Chase
Masterson:The
day I found out, about a week and a half ago, I was excited and I found
myself saying, "Please God? That would be really neat." Then I saw on the
paper, that same day were the stories about the three kids in Ireland, and
the famine in Sudan, and I sat there staring at the paper, going oh, my
god, how blessed we are to have such things to pray for, when so many
people in the world are in so much trouble and pain, you know? It really
put it in perspective, the contrast, the unfairness and ironic way the
world works. I don't understand it at all, but it does teach me to be
thankful, for little things and big things. I mean, even if we're here with
computers, that's like a big deal, you know?

Marc
Wade:
If you'd like to vote, visit the TVgen site at www.tvgen.com.

Guy
Vardaman: And if you haven't... Get out and vote!

Charlie
asks:What is the
actor that plays Rom like in real life?

Chase
Masterson:He's
very sweet, very committed. We have rehearsals @ Armin 's house, and that
really helps once we get on the set. Did you know that Leeta is named after
Lolita Fatjo, who is the ST script department, and who is dating Max?

George
asks:What did you
and the rest of the cast think about the death of the Jadzia Dax?

Chase
Masterson:I'm
really happy for Terry, who is now on a series on CBS with Ted Danson. It's
shot @ Paramount. We'll miss Dax. I think Dax should come back in the form
of an old man. Who Worf has to kiss.

Hi, Eeyore! I just heard you were here! Eeyore is my voiceover agent.

Mike
asks:Are you going
to be in any upcoming episodes for season seven, and if so do you know what
they are about?

Chase
Masterson:Yes!
Max and I are back in episode 4. It's an on-location episode. Should be
really fun.

JDG
asks:What will you
do in your reign if you are to be crowned 'Queen of Space'?

Chase
Masterson:Kill
the Cardassians. And also encourage people to do good stuff. We have a lot
of power, capability, in fandom, if we really organize and put our minds to
it. I'm always really inspired by what you guys do, like carwashes, Klingon
blooddrives, etc. It's very cool. Star Trek fans care about each other more
than a lot of churches.

Terry
asks:How has the
Star Trek world changed or influenced you?

Chase
Masterson:I
think in the way we were just saying. Also the whole IDIC philosophy.
That's very cool, and something the world is still catching on to, or even
searching for. Beauty in everybody, not just physical, but spiritual--viva
la difference! Sorry I'm babbling.

Marc
Wade:
Thanks, Chase. This has been great.

Chase
Masterson

We're all looking forward to the upcoming final exciting season of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine"! Check Viewing Stations in STAR TREK: CONTINUUM for the day and time and channelfor "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" in your area. We always have interesting chats coming up.
For more information, visit www.startrek.com.